Visa`s

[sessachief]

Question,
Both my wife and I are over 50, we are considering Thailand and either, Hua Hin,Pattyaor chaing mai, as our "Home" in Asia.
If we want to get an over 50`s retirement visa, can we apply in England for that ?
do we have to show just over £35K in our bank.
Or do I have to put that into a Thai bank account.
Can we get that status if I am still traveling around the world, or indeed doing a bit of consultancy back in England.
Is Rental for properties in Hua Hin a reliable form of income!
To qualify for a Local golf society how long does one have to be in residence.
Does anyone have good advice on excellent Health Insurance.
Would a state pension be frozen if one got a Retirement or over 50`s visa?

[lomuamart]

That's a load of questions. I'll just try and deal with the visa issues.
Yes, you can apply for an Non-Immigrant OA visa in the UK. Here's the link:
http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2493
You'll have to provide a police clearance certificate from the UK and have a health check - beware of leprosy? Neither of those checks are necessary if you apply for an extension in Thailand.
The plus points are that you'll get a "one year permitted to stay stamp" when you enter Thailand and you only have to report to Imm every 90 days.
A bit of advice, if I can, would be to get a multiple-entry Non OA, it'll cost you a bit more, but if you leave Thailand on a border run a day before the visa expires, you'll get another year upon re-entry. The visa thus works for almost two years.
The Thai bank account thing only applies if you're looking for an extension, based on retirement, within Thailand. Then the 800k Baht has to be in a Thai bank account continuously for 3 months before applying - and be there if and when the application is accepted.
I'll leave the rest of the questions for others to comment on.
_________________
"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

[niggle]

You would need to apply for a multi entry visa,
There are large amounts of property for rental / sale in HH. Bear this in mind as getting a tenant is up for some stiff competition.
Serch the net for expat health insurance and remember you get what you pay for.
State pension is payable at 65. so youve got a bit to go yet. The UK state pension is paid at that time and continues at the same rate - that is no annual increases unless you move back to the UK, then you get the current rate. Other than that it is unaffected by wherever you live
_________________
Curiosity killed the quantum cat

[dtaai-maai]

[sessachief]

Good Info thank you .
Multiple entry is the way forward then,and once I have decided enough work is enough. then that will be it, although i would want to keep my mind busy.
Health insurance is not over clear in the other posts.
But our three weeks in Hua Hin and Thailand before , allowed me to lose weight and feel much much healthier !
Yes we will rent for a bit before buying and see what area we like best.
Perhaps when we intend are next visit, a glass could be shared in local watering hole !

[Ralphsandbag]

Hi
The Thai Embassy in London is the place to go. Applications only in person takes two days to clear your forms....
Beware the Police Cert takes up to 42 DAYS....
All documents to be Notorised at a proffesional deptartment, not by someone who thinks he is authorised.
All documents must be within a few days of each other. Bank Statements are not liked if you down load from your computer, go to your bank for these.
Not sure about your 34,000 pounds, should be a lot less than that, but it is better to be over as under will not be accepted...
go to link...
www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk
This will give you directions/times of opening/telephone numbers. They are very very helpful people, (once you get through on the phone)
The forms you need for the Embassy can be download from their site.
All applications must appear in person ..... After that, to pick up your passports 2 days later only requires one person. (with the receipt) which they will give you....
Hope this helps somewhat. anything else pm me...
Cheers Ralph

[sandman67]

Id use the consular offices in Hull or Birmingham long before wandering down to the London embassy. The one in Brum is 10 minutes easy walk from New Street Station.

Same day turnaround on visas (actually within 20 minutes of them getting the docs if you go in person...seems to be true from multi entry and non imm O's and B's too). 2 day for postal applications.

Helpful and friendly...

Link to Birmingham consular page is http://www.thailand-visa.com/

....which is not my experience of the London embassy.....which was more like this -
_________________
If I can't smoke and swear I'm f****d!

[sessachief]

Thank you again, I am actually just outside London, so I could combine it with a visit to theatre or cinema. As for CRB check, I think i have already got one of those from a few years ago.
My wife does not, so if we get them done within a couple of months of our intended long visit, rather than a year or two in advance.
That would seem most sensible.
As a matter of interest, does Sky sports etc cost a lot, or do people gather at a local watering hole. Sadly i am more a rugby man that football.
and will be looking for some tennis partners in due course.
Both my wife an I loved the massages, so the body should keep going longer !
We are hoping to return end of June for three weeks, just to see different aspect of the place

[STEVE G]

Sandman, I didn’t realise it was possible to get a visa over the counter in Birmingham, seeing as I sometimes visit family in Nottingham I shall keep that in mind. Normally I stay less than thirty days a visit, but that is not always the case.

[lomuamart]

Just a heads up here. I'm almost certain that it's only The Thai Embassy in London who can issue Non Imm OA. Consulates can do a multi-entry Non O, but that's a different type of visa.
Also, be careful of how recent your police check is. I'm pretty sure that The Embassy won't be interested in documents that are a few years old.
_________________
"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

[PET]

The main two golf societies ( Hua Hin Golf Society and Butterfly Rock Golf Club) like to have members as residents and evidence this with at least 6 month rental agreements or the purchase of a property.
There are other requirements which are spelled out in their application forms. PET

[Ralphsandbag]

[sessachief]

Really useful information both on the golf front and visa issues.
Can you tell me if there is a good friendly tennis club in Hua Hin?

[Super Joe]

hi sessachief,

[HuaHinR]

Sorry to sound slow-witted, but I find it all very confusing. What is the difference between a "retirement visa" (an "immigration visa" as I understand it, meaning what? - that the bearer intends to live here relatively full-time and relatively permanently?) and an "OA non-immigration visa"?

I'd like a visa that would allow me to come and go pretty much as I please, i.e., without ducking out of the country every couple of months (I now hold a "non-immigration tourist visa, three entries, two months stay each entry), but am not yet sure I want to live here year-round.. . . perhaps just spend six to eight months (or more?) a year here and anywhere from several weeks to several months back in the US.

I'm told with a "retirement visa" you have to get an "exit visa" from immigration in order to leave Thailand? I do know that visa requires a check in with immigration every 90 days, and that doesn't seem too onerous.

It hasn't been 100% clear to me, incidentally, that some of the websites usually recommended are completely up to date (and often they don't fully explain all the differences, at least to my satisfaction). Even in this forum seemingly knowledgeable longtime residents seem to disagree occasionally on the specifics.

I know this is a lot, but I'd appreciate any clarification.